Comminuted-fuel burner



Feb. 25, 1930. R BURDlCK 1,748,106

l COMMINTED FUEL BURNER I Filed Aug. 6, 1928 IWI | Il Il' 5 4 I 31a/vento@ of the device.

Patented Feb. 25, 1930 RALPH HENRY BU'RDICK, OF PORTLAND, OREGON ooMMINU'rED-FUEL BURNER Application led'August 6, 1928. Serial No. 297,710.

YMy inventionrelates tocomminuted fuel burners and is more particularly. adapted to the burning of sawdust, and other comminutedfforms ofmill waste as hog fuel and .5 the like. l

r vvThe invention consists primarily ofa metal hopper, having a removable bottom, and having inwardly extending end'adapted to insertion within the doorv of the existing heating v1O plant, and having a removable hopper for maintaining the fuel as a supply therein and f that feeds by gravity into the fire chamber Means being provided for regulating the draft passing through the fire or av heat chamber ofthe device.

, The primary object of my device consists in a simplified construction and one thatmay l be easily and quickly installed and in use.

A further object ofmyfdevice consists in a'simplified construction that is cheap in construction, dependable in operation, and one' that may be used for the burning of comminuted mill waste fuels over relative long periods with freedom of attention, alteration and repair. Still further objects of my invention reside j in a device that may be used in the economic generation of heat and having a relatively low first cost of operation and that may be used for the generation of heat at low cost.

And still further objects of my invention consists in a construction that permits of the using of cheap materials and relatively cheap `labor in the manufacture that results in a product having a low first cost of production. l With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features i of construction and combination of parts, the

` essential elements of which are set forth in lthe appended claims, and a preferred form 'of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown l with reference to the drawings whichaccompany this specification.

In the drawings Y Fig. l is a sectional, side elevation of the assembleddevice, shown installed in combinatio'nwith a standard heating furnace, with the shell of the furnace partially broken away to 1V illustrate the construction of the same and how'the'same is to be installed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective, end view, ofthe disassembled devices, showing the construction of the different units of the device and how the same may be assembled to complete the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section view, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l, looking inthe direction indicated; f

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. My new and improved device is primarily intended to be used in combination with existing heating plants. VI preferably form the body portion of my device of sidewalls 1 and 2, and a front wall of twoportions, a horizontal portion 3, and a vertical portion 4. The rearfwall 5 is placedl between the side wall elements. I have found best results ob tained wherein the side front and rear walls arew welded together atl their meeting edges to form a box like structure that is homogeneous and that will not permit airfto leak thereinto. Instead of forming the bottom of grates as heretofore has been the general 011s-, tom, I have found excellent results obtain wherein the bottom 6 is also made of sheet steel and that is placed between the side walls and the outer end of the same resting upon a supporting rod 7 that passes through the side walls, this rod acting asv a support for the bottom of the fire box and at'the same time beingso placed that the side walls may be pulled into intimate contact with the bottomy element and be maintained in position therebetween. In order that the bottom may be placed in desired position and at the desired angle relative to the furnace with which the device is to be placed, I recommend that an adjustable support of refractory materials, as fire brick 8, be placed within the furnace 9, and rest upon the supporting grates thereby forming a rest for the inner end of the bottom. The primary purpose of making the -bottom 6 removable and adjustable isfto permit the removal of the same for renewable purposes and at thesame time to provide for an adjustment with existing furnaces.y An air damper 10 is provided at the front end of the devicethat is in hinged relation with the sidewalls l and 2. The supporting rod 11 of the draft regulator 10 passes through one of the side walls and terminates in a lever 12 that may be manually or automatically adjusted and positioned through the medium of an actuating chain 13 terminating at a convenient point for manual manipulation. The inner surface of the draft regulator contracts with the inner edge 14: of the bottom element and acts as a stop for the same. vrlhis forms a substantially air tight connection between the draft regulator and the bottom element and excludes air from the combustion chamber through the draft entrance.

For the purpose of inspection and the removal of the products of combustion, I make the hopper 15 removable. A ledge 16 is disposed about the outer surface of the hopper and in spaced relation with the lower edge 1T of the hopper. The lowerl end of the hopper should be accurately made to permit of entry of the hopper into and between the upper end of the box like structure 'composing the lire box. Locking holes 18 and 19 are disposed through one of the walls of the fire box into which the locking lugs 2O and 21 aremadeto and fused together at its meeting edges, a removable and adjustable bottom of sheet metal forming the bottom of the fire box and disposed between the side walls of the fire box, means for vclamping and supporting the bottom relative to the side walls anda removable hopper adapted for supporting a fuel supply ing the same relative to the side walls, a draft regulator disposed between the rear wall and the bottom and hinged relative to the sido walls and a hopper communicatingwith the inner space of the fire box and means for locking the hopper relative to the fire box-walls.

' `RALPH HENRY BURDICK.

engage. The enga-gement of the locking'lugs A with the locking holes prevents the undue removal of the hopper from the lire. box, and theledge 15 fitting tightly upon the upper edgeof the fire box prevents the undue entry of air in appreciable quantities into the fire box. I have made many installations of saw dust burners as herein outlined and have found Vthat the same give excellent results.

While the form of the device herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the oneform'of embodiment herein shownand described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all comingl within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is y1. In a device of the class described,` the combination of a fire boxl having side walls and a front wall and a rear wall made of sheet metal and fused together at their meet-ing edges, a cross bolt passing through the side walls to form the support for a removable bottom and to act as a. tightener for maini taining` a tight working relation between the side walls and the bottom, a draft regulator hingedly positioned between the side walls and adapted to rest upon the front wall of the removable bottom, and a removable hopperhaving a ledge disposed about its outer lower surface and in spaced relation with the lower edge of the hopper the lower end of the said hopper adapted for entry into the-upper v entry ofthe lire box to permit the ledge disposed therearound resting upon theY upper edge of the fire box walls and means for locking the hopper relative to the fire box.

2. In a device 'of the class described, the combination of afire boxmade of sheet metal 

